Prep Plus: Webster continues mat dominance

SPORTS

January 12, 2012

Aberdeen News

The Webster wrestling team won yet another tournament last weekend, but this was not a typical tourney. When the Bearcats topped the field at the 41st Central Cass Lettermen's Tournament in Casselton, N.D., the squad finished ahead of two-time defending N.D. State B champion Oakes in the process.

We were pretty happy about our performance, said Webster coach Wade Rausch. I feel we made a positive step in the right direction after last week up in North Dakota. We ended up beating some very quality kids.

The tourney featured some marquee matchups. In the finals at 113 pounds, Webster's Nolan Richie defeated Erik Loepp of Oakes in a battle of defending state champions.

Rausch also pointed out the efforts of Austin Grout at 120 pounds. Grout knocked off North Dakota's number one rated wrestler in the semifinals before beating the third-rated wrestler in the championship match.

Webster also received championships from Spencer Rausch at 132 pounds and Bryce Sichmeller at 160. The most valuable wrestler of the meet was 195-pound champion and undefeated Jamison Jangula of Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm.

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While the Bearcats have lost just one tournament in the past year and a half, Rausch noted that his team's most recent accomplishment had a different feel to it than some of its other wins earlier this season.

I think this last weekend was the first time that we showed signs of positive steps in the right direction, Rausch noted. This last weekend showed that we're going to be all right.

Despite being the defending South Dakota State B champion, Webster is flying under the radar a bit so far this season. That is OK with Rausch and the Bearcats.

There's a lot of people that think your Tri-Valleys and your Wagners are going to be the favorites for the team title, but that doesn't bother us any, Rausch said. We don't care. It comes down to who is going to be the most focused at the end of the year.

The Bearcats are heading to Aberdeen twice this month. Webster will wrestle in a triangular with Aberdeen Roncalli and Deuel at Roncalli Gym on Jan. 19 and then compete in the Lee Wolf Invitational at Golden Eagles Arena on Jan. 28. The Lee Wolf, which traditionally features a number of Class A squads including powerhouse West Fargo, N.D., is the only tourney Webster has not won since Rausch took over the program last season.

You see a lot of the quality A teams, Rausch said of the Lee Wolf tourney. You have to wrestle opponents better than you to see where you need to be.

Sports writer Dave Vilhauer

Miller record broken

Senior Darin Peterka became the all-time leading boys' basketball scorer in Miller school history Tuesday night.

Peterka hit a three-point shot early in the second half against Redfield-Doland to pass John Meek, who set the record at 1,385 points in 1957. Meek, who now lives in Texas, is an uncle of Miller coach Bob Waldrop.

Meek jokingly told his nephew on Monday that Peterka should be benched.

Staff Reports

Rough week

Ever have one of those weeks?

You should try being Shad Storley, boys' basketball coach at Britton-Hecla.

Last week Storley's squad ended up playing four games in a five-day span. The Braves had home games on Tuesday and Thursday, played in Aberdeen on Friday and then had a home game on Saturday.

To top it all off, Storley had to be in Sioux Falls bright and early Saturday morning for a class he is taking.

I did it to myself, Storley said of his busy week. It was just really bad timing.

Making matters worse, after Friday night's game against Aberdeen Roncalli, Storley was anxious to hit the road for Sioux Falls only to be locked out of his vehicle for 45 minutes following the game.

The keyless entry wouldn't work, Storley said.

He ended up reaching Sioux Falls about 1:15 a.m., then got up at 6:30 a.m. to start his day.

He attended class and drove back to Britton, arriving about 35 minutes before tip-off of the varsity contest.

Not only did the Braves lose all four games last week, but by the time Saturday night hit, Storley wasn't even sure where he was.

Twice in the second half I called timeout and I drew just a total blank on a play that we've run for years, Storley noted. It was just a tough week.

Sports writer Dave Vilhauer

Border classic

The Aberdeen Roncalli boys' basketball team will play in the eight-game 2012 Dakota Schoolers - Sanford POWER Border Classic Feb. 4 in Sioux Falls.